Method of prefabricating the block



March 3l, 1964 c. E. NAGEI. 3,126,671

CONSTRUCTION oF REINFORCED BUILDINGBLOCKSAND METHOD OF PREFABRICATING THE BLOCK CarZJN-wel BY baaSZEm bJBu/ww March 3l, 1964 c. E. NAGEL 3,126,671

CONSTRUCTION oF REINFoRcED BUILDING BLocxs AND METHOD 0F PREF'ABRICATING THE BLOCK Filed Aug. 14, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 o 'o o o f o {O G O O O so* sox INVENTOR` CarZEfggel ATTORNEY March 3l, 1964 c. E. NAGEL 3,126,671

CONSTRUCTION OF REINFOROED BUILDING BLOCKS AND METHOD OF PREFABRIOATING THE BLOCK Filed Aug. 14, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fi .15 I /J v75' E?. 76

' Il Il Il H Il l yl 1| 'l l l n 1| u u Il I Il 79 l: )L 7gg I l 7.9- l --r I- 75 Ir 'l 1| u I I je BY LOQQIML?. @www- Attorney United States Parent O 3,126,671 CONSTRUCTIN F REINFORCED BUILDING BLGCKS AND METHOD OF PREFABRICAT- ING THE BLOCK Carl E. Nagel, 1057 E. 33rd St., Oakland, Calif. Filed Aug. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 754,951 Claims. (Cl. 50-128) This invention relates to building blocks and to constructions in which they are used.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved reinforced block of the pre-stressed reinforcement type.

An important object of this invention is a construction of a building block wherein pre-constructed wire loop reinforcements are encased in cement or concrete while the wires are under tensile strain, the cement or concrete being permitted to set While the reinforcements are under these conditions, after which the tension is removed until the block is incorporated in a structure, when the tension is again applied.

Still another important object of this invention is the placing of the pre-constructed reinforcing loops so that the normal strains in a structure in which the block is used, will be carried by the reinforcements in a series of straight or substantially straight lines which lines are parallel or substantially parallel.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a block in which a set of pre-stressed wires extend from one side of the block space to the other side and a second set of wires extend through the block space at a substantial angle, as 90 to the first set, the sets of wires being then put under stress, the space around the wires being then filled with a cement or other plastic,to form the body of the block.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such a block in which passages are provided from one side of the block to the other side and after the block is made, wire loops are passed through the passages and put under stress and held under stress, while the openings around the wires are filled with some cement or other plastic and permitted to set or harden, after which the stress is removed, leaving the block in an uncracked condition.

Still another object of this invention is the method of manufacture of a building block which comprises the making of holes from edge to edge of the block, putting wire reinforcements in the openings, putting the reinforcements under stress, then filling the spaces around the reinforcements with cementitious material and removing the stress of the reinforcements after the cementitious material has become hard.

Still another object of the invention is the method of manufacture of a building block which comprises the making of two sets of holes from edge to edge of the block, the sets of holes being placed 90 apart, placing wire reinforcements in the holes of the block and then putting them under stress, then filling the spaces around the reinforcements with cementitious material, and removing the reinforcements from stress after the cementitious material has set or become hard.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved block and two series of reinforcing wire loops which are pre-constructed and in which one series of reinforcing loops has an angular relation to another series and all loops are placed under tension while the cement or other plastic is in pre-hardened state and the wires kept under tension until the cement is set or hardened around them.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved block construction having steel loops incorporated therein which loops comprise a series of closed loops extending across the block and another series of closed loops extending across the block at substantially to the first series.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a series of such blocks as has been described and having indentations in the block edges which are complementary to the inner surfaces of the respective loops and to form partial cylindrical contact surfaces on each block for contact with the surfaces of locking pins which engage also at the same time, the inner surfaces of the reinforcing loops when the whole structure is in pre-stressed condition.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a block construction as described, wherein the whole sets of reinforcing loops are offset from, but parallel to, the block edges a distance necessary to permit corresponding loop ends of adjacent blocks in substantially the same plane to lie substantially adjacent each other to permit a substantially straight-line pull on the loops through the locking pins which hold the blocks together; the offset of the sets of reinforcements being such as to distribute the contacting places of the reinforcing members, of the blocks not in the same plane, with the pins, while maintaining a substantially straight-line pull in all reinforcements of blocks which are in the same plane.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a block made according to my invention, using a built-up or laminated construction.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the block taken on the line 2 2 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a view of the closed wire reinforcing loop used in the construction of FIGS. l and 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cylindrical locking pin used in the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the tapered end of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of one solid wooden block and a portion of another similar block showing the method of securing the blocks together in the same plane, the locking pin and the plastic fill having been omitted in the interest of clearness of illustration.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of FIG. 6 on the line 7 7 of FIG. 6, the fill in openings 50a and 50d being omitted for the sake of clearness.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 6, before the loops, and cement or other plastic material is placed in the openings.

FIG. 9 is a view of the wire loop used illustrating the positions of the loops placed at 90 thereto, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. l0 is a perspective view of the securing pin which secures the loops and consequently the blocks together. FIG. ll is an end view of the structure of FIG. 10.

FIG. l2 is a perspective view of the block construction where part of the blocks are face-blocks.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the block construction where the blocks form a box or honey-comb construction.

n FIG. 14 is a perspective View of the meeting place of four face-blocks.

FIG. 15 is a plan View of a mold or form for placing the reinforcing loops under tension to produce pre-stressed conditions and wherein the cement or concrete or other plastic is filled in around the reinforcements.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view on the -line 16-16 of FIG. 15.

FIG. l7 is a plan View of the reinforcing loop.

FIG. 18 is a plan view of the pin used in FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 is an end view of the pin of FIG. 18.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 wherein one form of my invention is illustrated, the reference character 20 represents the main body of a laminated building block which is made of a suitable laminated wood construction. The

edges are cut away at 45 as at 20a to provide for the other cooperating blocks some of which are placed in prolongation of the plane of the block and some of the blocks are placed at 90 to form ia box or honey-comb construction.

These wooden blocks are provided with holes x equally spaced from the sides of the block and parallel to the edges thereof. These holes are bored and one set is parallel to two opposite edges and the other set is placed at 90 in parallel relation to the other two opposite edges of the block. This construction provides for one set of holes 20x to intersect the other set of holes.

Closed loops 21 of wire of high tensile Strength are provided in the bored holes as shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3. These loops are each independent of the other loops in the saine block but are of such a length that they will be placed under predetermined tension by suitable pins to be presently described. One set of these loops maybe placed in the appropriate openings in parallel relation and then the other set inserted, passing through the first pl-aced loops. By this arrangement, the loops of one set will not distort those of the other set and the loops will carry the saine tension, since they will be so placed that the ends of all the loops will extend out at the ends an equal distance.

At the edges of the blocks, I provide grooves 22 `for the reception of the pins 23, illustrated in FIG. 5. The pins 23 are provided with tapered ends 23a which tapered end construction is useful in (l) pre-stressing the loops, and (2) in assembling the blocks since the length of the loops 21 is such that the loop-ends 21a which have the same radius as the cross-section of the pins 23, will have a driving lit over the pins when assembled, and give the proper predetermined stress in the wire loops, and draw the blocks together.

In the manufacture of the blocks, after the holes 20x are bored, the loops are put through the holes and the pins 23 driven through the loops. The loops 21 are made of the proper lentgh to provide the wire of the loops with the desired tension when the pins 21 iare driven in place. It is to be noted in FIG. 2, that the beveled portions 20a of the block-edges are 90 apart which provides for the proper angularity of these ends when the blocks are assembled. The corresponding surfaces are in position to tit snugly in place. The planes of these surfaces pass through the axes of the pins 23 ias shown for the spaces in FIG. 2 where these pins are to be driven.

When the loops 21 and pins 23 are all in place, the space around the loops within the openings or holes 20x are filled with a suitable cement, concrete or plastic material 20y which will harden or set within a reasonable time. This step is performed by filling the holes or openings 24 shown in FIG. 2 as extending from 'a face of the block to the intersection of each two holes or openings as already described. See FIGS. l and 2.

In order to provide for the securing of the blocks tightly together, I provide in the grooves 22, adjacent the positions of the loop ends 21a, small grooves 2Gb to receive the loop ends of 'adjacent blocks which are in the same plane as the illustrated block 21. There is one of these small grooves 20b adjacent the position of each loop end 21a.

It will be noted that while the spacing of the wire loops 21 is equal as to the distance between the loops which are parallel, the whole set is placed otfset with relation to the center line and side edges of the block 20. Also spaced along the groove 22, at positions intermediate the positions of the loop ends 21a fare small grooves 20c. These are so spaced that they will register with the loop ends of the adjacent blocks which are placed in planes at 90 to the blocks 20 to form the box or honey-comb construction of FIGS. l2 and 13 to be described. rPhese small grooves 20c are placed substantially equidistant from the loop en-d positions 21a illustrated. With this construction, the loops of adjacent blocks which are in the same plane, connect to the pins in live substantially straight lines as illustrated, and the bending moments on the pins 23 are reduced to a minimum. These loops are held in these positions by the small grooves 2Gb and 20c. The saine is true of the loops lwhich are placed in blocks, the planes of which are at to each other. And since the loops 21a are connected to the pins 23 in groups of two, the stresses in the pins are distributed throughout the length of the pins rather than have the congestion of four or more loop ends 21a at substantially the same place.

With laminated blocks so constructed, it will be clear that they iare ready to be installed.

The reinforcing loops were enclosed in cement or concrete while they were held under tension to produce the pre-stressed condition. The tension in the reinforcing loops has been released while they have been firmly held in the cement or concrete. The grooves in the edges of the block have been provided to support the locking pins when they are returned to the block when it is installed in a building construction. The reinforcing loop-ends are all in position to coact with the pins and with the loop ends of adjacent blocks which are in the same plane, to 4form a practically continuous straight line of loop reinforcement throughout the whole structure.

And this statement as to the straight line of reinforcement, applies to the blocks which are in the same plane whether they are placed vertically, horizontally or at some other angle in the structure as a whole.

And when the tension is again applied, by driving in the pins when assembled, the block becomes a part of a whole structure, the reinforcing members have a tendency to return to their pre-stressed condition and the blocks each have sets of reinforcing loops at right angles to each other in the plane of the block in which the loops are embedded.

In FIG. 6 I have illustrated a form of block which is made of suitable solid wood construction. A block 50 is first bored as at 50a for the reception of the reinforcing wire loops SI1. The borings are made in two sets, the holes 5021 of each set being all parallel and equidistant and as a set, placed in parallel relation to two edges of the block. The other set of borings 50b are placed at right angles to the first set and are located substantially in the same plane as the lirst set. By such a construction, the holes intersect in a plane parallel to and between the faces of the block. At 90 to each intersection and extending to the surface, are short openings 50d for iilling the net-work of borings with a suitable soft cement, concrete or other plastic to provide suitable support and stability to the wire net-work as a whole.

A groove 50c is provided in the edge of the block all around its perimeter where it is to be attached to another block, as in FIG. 6. This groove is of a radius to receive a locking pin 52 and the two opposite grooves are parallel and so placed that they will support the pins at their proper places to give the wire loops the proper stress due to the stretching given them by the pins when in place. One end of each locking pin is tapered as at 52a to provide for its insertion in the loop ends 51a of the wire loops 51.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, is illustrated the shape of the edges of the blocks. The edges are beveled at 50e at an angle of 45 so that the surfaces form an angle to each other of 90 to enable the blocks to register with each adjacent block which is to be placed at a 90 position. This relationship is shown clearly in FIG. 13.

.When the blocks are to be provided with the reinforcing wire loops 51, the loops of the first set are inserted in the openings in their proper positions, after which the other set which bears a 90 relation to the first set is inserted, passing the loops through the loops of the first set as indicated in FIG. 9. The pins 52 are now driven in to give the proper stress to the loops 51.

When the wire loops 51 are in place, with the pins driven in to give the pre-stressed conditioning to the loops, a soft cement, concrete, or other plastic 54 is forced into the openings around the loop wires 51 through the openings 50d in one face of the block 50. This cement or other plastic 54 is permitted to set or harden while the wire loops 52 are in proper stretched condition. When the cement or other plastic is set or hardened, the pins may be removed. As the wire of the loops contr-acts, the cement will have a minimum of cracking or breaking, while the block itself will experience no breaking and will retain its full strength,

Just adjacent each of the loop ends 51a in the cement or other plastic 54 is provided the small groove 54a for the reception of the corresponding loop end 51a of an adjacent block 50. This small groove 54a perm-its a substantially straight line pull between the wire loops of adjacent blocks in the same plane.

Also there are provided in the groove 50c a pair of similar small grooves 50g for reception of the loop ends 51a of the blocks 50x which are placed at 90 such as illustrated in FIG. 13. These small grooves 50g are in pairs to provide for the reception of a pair of loop ends 51a. These grooves 50g are midway the distance between the loop ends 51a of the block 50 and are held by the same pins 52 in the block assembly. The offset positions of the borings and wire loops 51 place these small grooves and their Wire loops away from the loops of the blocks which are placed at 90 from them. In this way, the wire loops 51 which are substantially on a straight line have their loop-ends close together to reduce the bending moment on the pins 52, and at the same time, have the loop ends.51a.in spaced pairs to avoid congestion on the pins 52. l

With solid wooden blocks so constructed, it will be clear that they are ready to be installed.

The reinforcing loops were enclosed in cement or concrete while they were held under tension to produce the pre-stressed condition. The tension in the reinforcing loops has been released while they have been firmly held in the cement or concrete. The grooves in the edges of the block have been provided to support the locking pins when they are returned to the block when it is installed in a building construction. The reinforcing loop-ends are all in position to coact with the pins and with the loop ends of adjacent blocks which` are in the same plane, to form a practically continuous straight line or loop reinforcement throughout the whole structure.

And this statement as to the straight line of reinforcement, applies to the blocks which are in the same plane whether they are placed vertically, horizontally or at some other angle in the structure as a whole.

The blocks, after they are supplied with reinforced prestressed loops and provided with the cement around the reinforcements, may be assembled for incorporation in the structure of which it is to become a permanent part. The blocks are brought together so that their loops are in l-ine with the loops of adjacent blocks and pins are driven through the loops of at least two adjacent blocks.

When this is done, the loops which are in the connections between b'locks ofthe same plane will form links with the connecting pins, to form a substantially continuous lchain with its links extending in one direction. In this way there is created a long continuous reinforcement throughout the structure. 'The same effect is produced at 90 where the reinforcement is at 90.

I will now describe my preferred form of the invention. Referring to FIG. where I show a form or mold for casting the block, 75, 76, 77 and 78 designate the four complementary quarters of the form or mold which are held together solidly by the reinforcing loops 79 which are shown in FIG. 17. These forms or molds may be made of any suitable material.

As in the case of the other forms of the invention, the loops 79 are installed in sets of 5 in the illustrated embodiment. These loops 79* are attached at one end to a 6 fonm, as 75, by inserting the pin a into the hole in the form member 75 so that the pin 75a will pass through the loop-end 79a of the loops 79. The same operation for the form part 77 is now followed for the opposite end of the loops 79 which are attached to the form member 77, by the pin 77a.

Another set of loops 79 are similarly attached to a similar pin 78a. The opposite ends of the loops 79 which are attached to the form member 7S, are now attached to the form member 76 by driving in the pin 76a.

As this last pin 76a is driven home, the quarters of the form will adjust themselves and a pre-stressed cond-ition is set up in the loops 79.

The form or mold is of sufficient thickness to give the required thickness to the block when nished as shown in FIG. 16, the thickness of the form quarters 75, 76, 77 and 7S being of the thickness desired for the concrete block when finished.

As shown in FIG. 16, tapered edges are provided for at 80 which are made in the form parts 7S, 76, 77 and 7'8, on an angle of 45 to the plane of the block. Where the two tapered or beveled edges 80 come together, a groove 81 lis provided for the recept-ion of the pins 75a, 76a, 77a and 78a, as already described.

These blocks, like those already described, have the sets of loops 79 oset from the median of the block a distance equal to substantially one eleventh of the width of the block, when there are to be five reinforcing loops incorporated in the structure.

This offset of the set of reinforcing loops is made for the purpose of distributing the stresses in the pins 75a, 76a, 77a and 78a and this construction also provides for the use of the same type block at in a vertical position and the loops when so used will not interfere with the loops of the horizontally placed blocks In the assembling of the reinforcing loops prior to the pre-stressing of the loops, the loops of one set is preferably placed within the contour of the other set of loops as shown in FIG. 16, at 79.

In fabricating the blocks, the form assembled with its pins 75a, 76a, 77a and 78a in place and the wires of the loops in a pre-stressed condition, is placed on a liat surface and filled with the concrete, cement or other plastic `of which the block is to be made. This concrete, cement or other plastic is allowed to harden or set, after which the pins 75a, 76a, 77a and 78a are removed and the form quarters taken from the linished block.

In order to have proper indentations made during fabrication, to receive other wire reinforcing loops, there are provided in the forms 75, '76, '77, and 78, dummy reinforcements 79a and 79b to provide for the reception of the real reinforcements 79 when the blocks are assembled in a building structure.

With solid blocks so constructed, it will be clear that they are ready to be installed.

The reinforcing loops were enclosed in cement or concrete while they were held under ten-sion to produce the pre-stressed condition. The tension in the reinforcing loops has been released while they have been firmly held in the cement or concrete. The grooves in the edges of the block have been provided to support the locking pins when they are returned to the block when it is installed in a building construction. The reinforcing loop-ends are all in position to coact with the pins and with the loop ends of adjacent blocks which are in the same plane, to form a practically continuous straight line of loop reinforcement throughout the whole structure.

And this statement as to the straight line of reinforcement, applies to the blocks which are in the same plane whether they are placed vertically, horizontally or at some other angle in the structure as a whole.

As the blocks are assembled and the pins driven in their corresponding loops in adjacent loops, the blocks are united into a solid unitary structure. When this assembly operation is complete, the blocks with their reinforcing elements form stiffening means for the whole structure. v

When the blocks are assembled in a building structure, shorter pins similar to the pins 75a are used to fasten the blocks together. Such pins are illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 10, already described. In assembling these blocks, of whatever material used, it is understood that they will be put together with a suitable cement as a neat cement in order to seal the structure and make it watertight.

When the blocks of any of the types described, are to have a face which abuts with the face of adjacent blocks, the blocks have a slightly different construction. Such a block 60 is illustrated in FIG. 12. In this block 60', as illustrated, one half of the edge is beveled but the other half abuts the adjacent block at an angle of 90 to its face as shown at 60a in the lower portion of FIG. 12. Using this construction, a whole face of a bridge or Wall construction may present a plane surface without the interruption of the grooves as would be the case of the beveled surfaces 50e illustrated in FIG. 6 where adjacent blocks come together. Such a face View of the blocks is shown in FIG. 14.

It is to be understood that in FIGS. 12, 13, and 14, the illustrated construction may apply to any form of the `block illustrated and that these gures are for the purpose orf illustrating how the blocks are to be used in a construction.

It is believed to be clear that the blocks should be made square and by selecting the blocks for the face or interior, smooth surfaces may be produced, which can be painted or otherwise treated.

While I have illustrated and descnibed my invention in detail, it is to be understood that modifications and changes may be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention and within its scope as claimed.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A construction of reinforced building blocks each having a body portion for use in building constructions comprising:

(a) continuous loop-shaped prestressed reinforcing elements for each block body portion and having a plurality of aligned loop-ends extending from the opposite ends of the body portion and holding the blocks in predetermined relation,

(b) the loop-ends extending from each body portion a substantially uniform distance and of a substantially uniform size,

(c) the loop-shaped reinforcing elements having prestressed conditions for the block used,

(d) pins of a cylindrical shape having tapered ends, each pin disposed in and contacting with a plurality of loop-ends of one of the blocks and a plurality of loop-ends of an adjacent block, said pins engaging the opposed edges of adjacent body portions and with `the loops acting to maintain adjacent blocks in edgeto-edge relation and (e) the body portion of each block having a cementitious material embedding the reinforcing elements.

2. A construction as set yforth in claim 1 wherein (f) the blocks are provided with pin-contacting grooves adjacent each o-f the block edges.

3. A construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein (f) there are two sets of reinforcing elements, the elements of each of the sets -being placed in `a roul at from elements of the other set.

4. A construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein (f) the blocks are provided with pin-contacting grooves, the loops extending from the block adjacent the grooves.

5. The method of prefabricating a reinforced building block for building constructions, comprising:

(a) the placing of two sets of substantially similar continuous reinforcing loop-elements at 90 to each other in building block spaces with a plurality of the loop ends of each set aligned and extending from the opposite ends of the block,

(b) passing a pin loosely through the aligned loop-ends at each of two adjacent ends of the block,

(c) then driving a tapered pin through a plurality of aligned loops at each of the other adjacent ends of the blocks and in engagement with a solid portion of the block adjacent the block space to press there- `against and place the reinforcing loop-elements under prestressed conditions,

(d) applying cementitious material in the block spaces to embed the reinforcing loop-elements while the elements are still under prestressed conditions, and the (e) pins being removed to permit handling of the separate blocks, subsequently, the pins may be replaced to stretch the loop-ends and to have a tendency to return the elements and the pins to prestressed condition when operatively replaced.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,060,853 Peirce May 6, 19113 1,553,157 Henderson Sept. 8, 1925 1,624,369 Serra Apr. 12, 1927 1,914,112 Dvorak June 13, 1933 2,373,409' Myer Apr. 10, 1945 2,413,990 Muntz Jan. 7, 1947 2,590,685 Coi Mar. 25, 1952 2,615,678 Stent Oct. 28, 1952 2,635,450 Orzel Apr. 21, 1953 2,712,750 Finsterwalder July 12, 1955 2,897,668 Graham Aug. 4, 1959 2,908,139 Horton et al Oct. 13, 1959 2,920,475 Graham Jan. 12, 1960 2,921,462 Wilson Jan. 19, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 195,570 Great Britain Apr. 5, 1923 145,643 Switzerland May 16, 1931 168,960 Switzerland July 16, 1934 16,533 Australia Sept. 25, 1934 713,211 Germany Nov. 3, 1941 557,025 Great Britain Nov. 2, 1943 147,384 Sweden Oct. 19, 1954 744,717 Great Britain Feb. 15, 1956 

1. A CONSTRUCTION OF REINFORCED BUILDING BLOCKS EACH HAVING A BODY PORTION FOR USE IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS COMPRISING: (A) CONTINUOUS LOOP-SHAPED PRESTRESSED REINFORCING ELEMENTS FOR EACH BLOCK BODY PORTION AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF ALIGNED LOOP-ENDS EXTENDING FROM THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE BODY PORTION AND HOLDING THE BLOCKS IN PREDETERMINED RELATION, (B) THE LOOP-ENDS EXTENDING FROM EACH BODY PORTION A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM DISTANCE AND OF A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM SIZE, (C) THE LOOP-SHAPED REINFORCING ELEMENTS HAVING PRESTRESSED CONDITIONS FOR THE BLOCK USED, (D) PINS OF CYLINDRICAL SHAPE HAVING TAPERED ENDS, EACH PIN DISPOSED IN AND CONTACTING WITH A PLURALITY OF LOOP-ENDS OF ONE OF THE BLOCKS AND A PLURALITY OF LOOP-ENDS OF AN ADJACENT BLOCK, SAID PINS ENGAGING THE OPPOSED EDGES OF ADJACENT BODY PORTIONS AND WITH THE LOOPS ACTING TO MAINTAIN ADJACENT BLOCKS IN EDGETO-EDGE RELATION AND (E) THE BODY PORTION OF EACH BLOCK HAVING A CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL EMBEDDING THE REINFORCING ELEMENTS. 